51 - Murim Login
Episode 51 Swish, swish, swish! Swords, axes, maces. Dozens of weapons rained down like a torrential shower. Yet, I could see them all clearly. Every single attack, where and how it was aimed. I seized the opportunity and made my move. Slice— It began with beheading a C-rank monster, a Lizardman warrior. As my spear blade traced a semicircle, a fountain of blood erupted from all sides. Ding. Ding. Ding. - You have defeated [Lv.40 Lizardman Warrior]! - You have defeated [Lv.41 Swampland Lizardman]! - You have defeated [Lv.40 Swampland Lizardman]... "Kiieee..." The survivors hesitated and backed away, trembling in terror. But that hesitation was brief. “Kwaaaah!” - Boss monster, [Lv.52 Lizardman Chieftain], has appeared! - Using skill [Battle Cry]! The chieftain, at least twice the size of the others, shouted, the air vibrating from its massive mace. The appearance of the leader brought the retreating Lizardmen back into formation. ‘I wondered why it ended so easily.’ From behind me, Manager Choi's relaxed voice drifted over. “Can you handle it?” “Is that something to say to a person who hasn’t lifted a finger for days?” “It's a different story. It’s a C-rank gate.” “Then lend a hand, will you?” After some thought, Manager Choi replied. “That’s not possible. I’m wearing limited edition gear today. It’d break my heart if it got stained with blood.” “...Do you want me to really hurt you?” The longer the conversation went on, the more it felt like internal injury, my stomach churning and the back of my head throbbing. Fighting monsters would be better. As I took a decisive step forward, Manager Choi casually tossed out a comment. “Retreat is also an option.” The man, worried about staining his limited edition gear, spoke some sense. A commendable comment. And... “Why retreat when there’s a better way?” Ahead, led by the Lizardman Chieftain, the monsters surged like a wave. A force that an average C-rank hunter wouldn’t dare confront. If it were an average C-rank hunter, that is. ‘Open status window.’ Ding. The system responded immediately. A week since I resumed my life as a hunter, the status window showed Level 40, and the letters at the bottom glowed brightly. - Remaining Points: 100 Since returning to reality, I hadn't used any of the remaining points out of sheer curiosity. To see just how far I could go in my current state. But holding back any longer would be foolish. ‘Allocate 30 to strength and stamina, and 40 to agility.’ In an instant, the remaining points were depleted. In contrast, a new power surged from deep within my body. A different version of me stood here now than just seconds ago. ‘Yes, this is it.’ My body trembled with exhilaration. “Krahaa!” With a roar, the Lizardman Chieftain charged. Toward the massive mace casting a shadow, I extended my spear. “One Slash (一啖).” At the spear’s tip, a path in the wind opened. “Heh.” Manager Choi, Choi Min-woo, let out a dry chuckle. A thick mist of blood enveloped the swamp, monsters’ corpses littered beneath, visible to his eyes. ‘What is this?’ In an instant, dozens of monsters, including the boss monster, were annihilated. All this unfolded from the spear of a C-rank hunter who reawakened just a few days ago. ‘Is this even possible?’ A question I harbored since the day I first met Jin Tae-kyung. That day at an E-rank gate I went to on a whim, he had ruthlessly dominated a rare monster, which would typically require several C-rank hunters. Additionally, the power he displayed over the past few days... ‘A C-rank hunter? It’s laughable.’ The reason for undertaking a raid with Jin Tae-kyung alone was simple. To witness the limits of this intriguing individual. And to keep it hidden from others. However, at this moment, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. ‘Could he be... No, that can’t be true.’ Choi Min-woo shook off his lingering thoughts, watching Jin Tae-kyung. He was cradling the beheaded boss monster, lamenting bitterly. “No, my hide! This thing’s expensive!” ...Someone like him couldn’t possibly be. No, it shouldn’t be. Suddenly, Choi Min-woo felt aggrieved. Burning Friday night. Known as ‘Fire Friday.’ While people in their twenties might be out drinking and clubbing, I was trudging through gates with Manager Choi. Once in the morning. Twice in the afternoon. After hitting three C-rank gates, night had already fallen. “Great work, young master.” A face familiar by now. The man with the striking features, Manager Choi referred to him this way. “Thank you, Butler Kim.” Butler Kim. Not secretary, but a butler. Such an unreal term, at first I thought I misheard. ‘I only ever met church deacons.’ He was a bandit from my snot-nosed childhood who forced a tithe of 100 won from my weekly allowance of 1,000 won. He never called me ‘young master,’ and when I resisted the tithe, he muttered that I was the child of Satan. At seven, I was the type to ask questions out of curiosity. ‘Mom. Are you Satan?’ ‘Huh? Satan?’ ‘Yeah. The church deacon said I’m Satan’s child. I’m your child, so you must be Satan, right?’ Those words marked my mom as Satan. I was banned from eating church snacks ever again, and the deacon nearly went to meet the Lord. Looking back, life is really a drama, isn’t it? “Is there something you wish to say...?” Butler Kim’s question brought me back to reality. “Nothing. I was just lost in thought.” “Let’s call it a day now.” Manager Choi had already changed into casual attire. His slim tailored suit made him look like a celebrity. ‘Life is really disgustingly unfair.’ I began to grumble internally as I started to remove my gear, albeit with careful hands. I looked up the price on the first day... No point in dwelling on it. While Butler Kim loaded the equipment into the car, I asked Manager Choi, “What time should I come out tomorrow?” “Tomorrow?” Manager Choi echoed, sounding puzzled. “Today is Friday.” “Yes.” “And tomorrow is Saturday.” “I do know that Saturday follows Friday.” Did he think I was a fool? “No, what I meant was...” Manager Choi furrowed his brow. “You’re not seriously planning to work on the weekend, are you?” “...Isn’t that a given?” Manager Choi asked, looking genuinely shocked. “If you don’t rest on the weekend, then when do you rest?” “Hmm. When I can't find work?” “And how often is that?” “I don’t know, once a month if I’m lucky?” “Weren’t you part of a guild? Did you work weekends then too?” “If there was work to be done.” “Isn’t that a violation of hunter labor laws?” Even the virtually impeccable Manager Choi seemed oblivious to one thing: the ways of the world. I smirked. “Where’s the small guild that strictly follows that? They just add extra bonuses and make you raid. It suits me fine.” “You... like that, do you?” “I go to the job agency on weekends. It’s better to get paid extra by the guild than to go there. They pay in cash, avoiding any records.” “That’s how things are.” Manager Choi shook his head dismissively. “Our guild adheres to labor laws. Including provisional contracts.” What a shame. Looks like I'll have to head to the job agency this weekend. Manager Choi gave me a peculiar look as I smacked my lips. “Why go through all that trouble?” “Trouble?” “You’re a C-rank hunter now. You could afford to take it easy.” “That’s... The system could disappear anytime.” I bit back the words that almost slipped from my mouth. That was my secret that I could tell no one. “No specific reason. Just rowing while the tide’s in.” “If you keep working like that, the oar will break. Think of the people in the same boat.” “People in the same boat? You mean you, Manager Choi?” “Well, for instance... Manager Choi hesitated, then continued. “Like family.” Family. Just a simple word, yet warmth seeped into every corner of my being. Though we occasionally talked on the phone, it had been over two months since I last saw them. If I included the time spent in the martial world, it was closer to three months. ‘Has it been that long already?’ After my father passed away, my life had felt like driving uphill. I couldn’t help but push the accelerator. It felt like I’d slide backward if I let up even a bit, or that the engine might stall at any moment. “Anyway, take the weekend off. Don’t think about going to the job agency. That would be a breach of contract.” “Ah, yes.” Seeing how adamantly he insisted I rest, maybe Manager Choi wasn’t such a bad guy... No, I shouldn’t be swayed by this minimal show of compassion. I endured all sorts of hardships on my own. ‘Manager Choi is a cruel employer. A cruel employer.’ He was surely insisting I rest so he could work me hard next week. It was the attitude of a slave-driving plantation owner who wanted to preserve my strength. What a harsh man. “Everything is ready, young master.” Butler Kim returned from loading the equipment. The poor man was suffering under a cruel employer, unable to clock off even as it neared ten at night. “Ah, did you bring it?” “Yes, I did.” “Hand it over.” At the cruel employer’s command, Butler Kim handed me a briefcase. “Here you go, Hunter.” To me? “Uh, for me?” I blinked, a sudden thought hit me, and I cautiously asked, “Is this money?” “We agreed on a weekly wage, didn’t we? You forgot?” I had forgotten. I just assumed I'd receive it on Sunday. I took the bag, bewildered. The briefcase, affectionately known as a 007 bag, was quite hefty. “Is cash payment normal?” “Of course not.” “Then...” “Mr. Jin Tae-kyung, you said you preferred cash. Especially crisp new bills.” Was it yesterday or the day before that I mentioned it offhandedly, not expecting it to turn into this. My evaluation of the cruel employer went up a notch. ‘Though the most important thing remains.’ From Tuesday to Friday. A total of four days’ pay. The first weekly wage as a C-rank hunter. Naturally, I was curious about the amount. I swallowed and opened my mouth. “So how much is it all...” “I put a little extra than stated in the contract. There’s an accounting statement inside for you to check. We’ll take our leave now.” “See you next time, Hunter.” In an instant, Manager Choi and Butler Kim vanished. It all happened so quickly. Staring at the receding car lights, I opened the briefcase. Under the faint moonlight, I began counting the thick bundles of banknotes. ‘One, two, three...’ Sixty bundles of 100 bills each. That’s 60 million won. “Sixty? Wait a moment.” Did I see wrong? Why is the bill’s color yellow? Focusing my energy on my eyes, my vision cleared, revealing the figure on the bills — a benevolent lady in traditional attire. “Ahhh! Shin Saimdang! Perfect mother and wife! Mother of Yul-gok Yi I! Wife of Yi Won-su!” I burst into unintelligible exclamations. This is insane. Completely insane. Shin Saimdang's 100 bills, 60 bundles mean...? “Th-three billion!” My legs gave out, and I plopped onto the ground. Gazing at the mountain of cash, my eyes caught sight of something unfamiliar. A white sheet of paper on the bottom of the briefcase. ‘Right, the statement!’ I hastily unfolded the paper. Every bit of income from the past four days was meticulously recorded. Including the final amount paid to me. ‘The statement says 30 million won?’ What’s this? Was I mistaken? Confused and shaken, my eyes stopped at the last line. [Bonus: 270 million.] And Manager Choi’s final words echoed back to me. ‘I put a little extra than stated in the contract.’ A rumble of thunder and lightning rolled through my mind. I stood up on shaky legs. In the distance, the car's fading taillights could still be seen. It resembled a single ray of light. "Ah... ahhh..." Manager Choi. No, he is 'the light.'